Current:Home > MarketsVermont man who gave state trooper the middle finger and was arrested to receive part of $175,000 settlement -ProfitQuest Academy
Vermont man who gave state trooper the middle finger and was arrested to receive part of $175,000 settlement
View
Date:2025-04-28 09:06:34
Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was charged with a crime for giving a state trooper the middle finger in 2018, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday.
The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the ACLU of Vermont on behalf of Gregory Bombard, of St. Albans. It says Bombard's First Amendment rights were violated after an unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest in 2018.
Trooper Jay Riggen stopped Bombard's vehicle in St. Albans on Feb. 9, 2018, because he believed Bombard had shown him the middle finger, according to the lawsuit. Bombard denied making the gesture but was detained by Riggen for several minutes for questioning, according to the ACLU of Vermont. After the initial stop concluded, Bombard cursed and displayed the middle finger as he drove away.
Riggen stopped Bombard again, arrested him on a charge of disorderly conduct, and ordered the towing of his car. He was jailed for over an hour and cited to criminal court, according to the ACLU. The charge was dismissed nearly a year later.
In the 2021 lawsuit, the ACLU argued that using the middle finger to protest a police officer's actions is free expression protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 13 of the Vermont Constitution.
Under the settlement signed by the parties this month, the state has agreed to pay Bombard $100,000 and $75,000 to the ACLU of Vermont and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression for legal fees.
"While our client is pleased with this outcome, this incident should never have happened in the first place," said Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the ACLU of Vermont, in a statement. "Police need to respect everyone's First Amendment rights — even for things they consider offensive or insulting."
The Vermont State Police did not have a comment on the settlement. Vermont did not admit any wrongdoing as part of the deal.
Bombard said in a statement provided by the ACLU that he hopes the Vermont State Police will train its troopers "to avoid silencing criticism or making baseless car stops."
- In:
- Vermont
- First Amendment
- Police Officers
- American Civil Liberties Union
veryGood! (44738)
Related
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson and singer Ciara welcome daughter Amora Princess
- Patrick Mahomes rips NFL officiating after Kadarius Toney' offsides penalty in Chiefs' loss
- Steelers' Mike Tomlin wants George Pickens to show his frustrations in 'mature way'
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Voter turnout plunges below 30% in Hong Kong election after rules shut out pro-democracy candidates
- Turkey under pressure to seek return of Somalia president’s son involved in fatal traffic crash
- Battle over creating new court centers on equality in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital city
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- The US is restricting visas for nearly 300 Guatemalan lawmakers, others for ‘undermining democracy’
Ranking
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- AP PHOTOS: At UN climate talks in Dubai, moments between the meetings
- An unpublished poem by 'The Big Sleep' author Raymond Chandler is going to print
- Mashed potatoes can be a part of a healthy diet. Here's how.
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Cardi B confirms split with husband Offset: 'I been single for a minute now'
- 52-foot-long dead fin whale washes up on San Diego beach; cause of death unclear
- Boeing promotes insider to chief operating officer, putting her in the discussion about the next CEO
Recommendation
Tree trimmer dead after getting caught in wood chipper at Florida town hall
Air Force disciplines 15 as IG finds that security failures led to massive classified documents leak
Aaron Rodgers spent days in total darkness and so did these people. But many say don't try it.
Ciara Gives Birth, Welcomes Baby With Husband Russell
Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
Imprisoned accomplice in shooting of then-NFL player’s girlfriend dies
New Hampshire man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Vivek Ramaswamy
NFL Week 14 winners, losers: Chiefs embarrass themselves with meltdown on offsides penalty